The Wolf Lord's Mate

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Is that for me?" I managed to say, my voice weak.

"Yes," Nathaniel offered me a gentle smile, "I've had it ready for you every night."

"Oh."

"You held on longer than most people would, but I shouldn't have expected anything less from my fearsome, stubborn little mate."

"It's been quite difficult," I admitted, half-delirious from my lack of sleep.

"I know, my sweet," Nathaniel purred, "But it's alright, you don't have to be strong when you're with me. Let me take care of you, darling, let your mate give you comfort."

He beckoned me over, and I was too exhausted to resist, my bare feet padding across the carpeted wood.

I could see the darkened circles under Nathaniel's eyes, and couldn't help but feel guilty. I was not the only one being affected by the distance that I had placed between us, and there were plenty of other Wolves who would not have waited for me to come to them. Plenty of Wolves who would have forced the bond and marked me immediately, but not Nathaniel.

His nature toyed with me. Could it be a trick? It had to be, hadn't it? I had see the cruelty of Wolves directed at humans, had seen human mates sob before having their throats ripped into in the supposed name of true love. Seen the scars they bore as a sign of their claiming.

Nathaniel had shown no such violence towards me, but that did not mean it wasn't there, lingering below the surface. I was treated specially even before he had admitted his claim, I knew that now. But if I wasn't his mate, he wouldn't care about me. I would still be in the Alleys, living under the cruelty of Wolves like Forester, who didn't care whether humans lived or died.

I didn't know what to believe about Nathaniel. I didn't know what was true anymore.

So far Nathaniel had been patient. So far Nathaniel had been kind. So far Nathaniel had been making me tea every night, waiting for me to come upstairs. It made my heart ache, a well of emotion building up inside of me, and it took everything in me not to climb onto his lap and bury my face in his neck.

Instead I sat down next to him, sinking into the plush pillows and blankets with a sigh. Nathaniel situated himself so that his thigh was pressed against mine, his arm slung over the back of the chaise. He had positioned himself in such a way that if I wanted to lean my head against his chest, I could, but he did not force it.

"Why?" I asked, letting my body relax in his presence, "Why do all of this?"

"It's really nothing," Nathaniel said, "I just wanted you to be comfortable."

"No, I mean—why not come downstairs and order me up here?" I leaned my head against the back of the chaise, just below his outstretched arm.

"I have a feeling you wouldn't have listened to any orders even if I had given them," Nathaniel gave a low, rumbling chuckle, "With anyone else I would find that incredibly irritating, but with you I find it adorable. I find everything you do adorable—like that," Nathaniel reached out to tap a finger on my hand where I'd been worrying the fabric of one of his blankets, "Your little stress ticks, I've picked them up from watching you in the sewing room. What's troubling you?"

"You could have forced me," I spoke softly, picking at a loose thread on the blanket, "You could have dragged me upstairs and made me sleep with you—sleep in bed with you, I mean..." I squeezed my eyes shut.

The point still stood either way. He was an Alpha Wolf who dwarfed me in size and strength, and I would be helpless to fight off anything he tried against me. So why didn't he try anything? That's what Wolves did. That's what Wolves were supposed to do.

"I told you before, Mira," I opened my eyes as Nathaniel tucked a finger under my chin, guiding me to look up at him, "If you did not agree to be mine, then I would simply work my hardest to convince you that I am worthy of being your mate. I intend to court you, I intend to make you fall in love with me —and yes, I will seduce you, and you will warm my bed, but it will be your choice when that happens."

"When?" I said, too tired to prod at his statement anymore than that, "I think you mean if."

"I mean when," Nathaniel moved his finger from my chin, stroking it over my cheek, "But I promise you, now and forever, that I will never force myself on you. I could never forgive myself for hurting you. You are too precious to me. You are mine."

Precious. The sentiment made warm tingles erupt in my chest, but they soured quickly. His possessiveness and protectiveness were a form of ownership, and I could not forget the keyhole in the door. The one only he could lock. I was his to possess, his to keep—his little trophy.

He could try and convince me to be his however he liked, and I might even enjoy some of it, but I would win his little war of seduction. The real fight could begin in the morning, however, after I had stolen back all of the sleep that I could muster.

I yawned, the warmth of the fireplace and the comfort of Nathaniel's massive form making my eyes flutter shut. I blinked them back open as Nathaniel pulled a blanket onto my lap, smoothing the fabric gently over me.

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